Kate, who is fluent in both Mandarin and Spanish, began her diplomatic life in 2000 when she joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), acting as a Desk Officer for Conflict Prevention and Refugee Policy in the United Nations department. Since then she has worked in a number of posts in a variety of countries, including as Head of the India, Nepal, Bhutan Team (2006-07) and most recently a Political Counsellor in Beijing (2015-18).